Toy telephone



Dec. 29, 1936. BREGMAN 2,066,064

TOY TELEPHONE Filed May 16, 1935 I N VE N TOR. HARRY BREGMAA/ ATTORNEYSPatented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY TELEPHONEporation of Ohio Application May 16, 1935, Serial No. 21,720

18 Claims.

This invention relates to toy telephones, and more particularly to a toytelephone of the type having a calling device such as a rotatable dial.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved toytelephone having a calling device and novel signaling means arranged tobe actuated by the calling device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy telephone of thedial type having novel signaling means including a plurality of soundproducing devices arranged to be actuated by rotation of the dial.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved toytelephone of the type having a rotatable dial and signaling devicesincluding a bell adapted to be actuated in response to rotation of thedial in one direction, and a voice simulating device adapted to beactuated in response to rotation of the dial in the opposite direction.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved toytelephone having a dial and a signaling device, and novel means foroperatively connecting the dial and the signaling device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingsheet of drawings, wherein Fig. l is a side elevation of a toy telephoneembodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

35 Fig. 4 is a partial sectional plan view taken as indicated by theirregular section line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the dial and bell ringingmechanism, and 40 Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the dial and bellringing mechanism in section.

More detailed reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing forthe purpose of describing the improved toy telephone which embodies myinvention. However, before proceeding with such detailed description, itshould be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined tothe particular construction illustrated, but may be embodied in variousother devices coming within the scope of the appended claims.

My invention may be embodied in a toy telephone cf the cradle type, thatis to say of the type having a standard or base and a combinedtransmitter and receiver removably supported thereon, and in Figs. 1 and2 of the drawing I show a telephone of this type. The base IU of thistelephone may comprise a sheet'metal shell H which has been stamped orotherwise formed to the desired shape, and a cradle l2 thereon 5 whichprovides a support for the combined transmitting and receiving hand setl3. The base may also include a bottom cover plate M which may, ifdesired, be provided with a covering or sheath 15 of felt or othersuitable material. 10

The hand set l3 may be of any suitable construction,-such as sheetmetal, and may comprise a handle part I! having receiver andtransmitting parts l8 and I9 secured to opposite ends thereof. Thehandle part I! is shaped for removable supporting engagement in thecradle l2. A cord 26, simulating an electric conductor cord, may bearranged to connect the hand set l3 with the base In.

The cradle l2 and the bottom cover I4 may be conveniently secured to theshell II by means of a clamping rod or bolt 22 which extends downwardlythrough the cradle and the shell and has a clamping nut 23 disposed in arecess of the bottom cover M. The cradle may be spaced above the shellll of the base by means of a spacer 24, of wood or other suitablematerial, through which the clamping rod 22 extends.

As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the shell ll of the base may beprovided in the front wall thereof with a recess 25 in which therotatable dial 26 of the calling device is arranged. The calling devicealso includes a plate 21 having an annular series of numerals orcharacters such as the names of cities or stations. As is usual indevices of this kind, the rotatable dial 26 has an annular series ofopenings 28 through which the characters are visible. The openings ofthe dial are shaped to receive a childs finger for causing rotation ofthe dial.

In accordance with my invention I provide this improved telephone with aplurality of signaling devices 30 and 3| which, as will be presentlyexplained, are arranged to be actuated in response to rotation of thedial 26. The signal ing device 30 comprises a. bell 36 and mecha nismfor ringing the same. The signaling device 3I may be a voice simulatingdevice such as a device capable of producing a cry or squawk. The dial 26 is mounted upon a rotatable shaft 33 and is drivingly connectedthereto by means of the nut 34 cooperating with the shoulder 35. Theshaft 33 extends into the hollow shell I l and, at its inner end,carries the bell 36 and a winding member 31. The bell and the windingmember 'may be'secured to the shaft bynuts 38and 39 so that thesemembers will be rotated with the shaft.

A 0011 spring may be disposed around the shaft 33 with one endithereofanchored to the shell as indicated at 4|, and its other end extendingf'into an anchor slot or Opening of the shaft. "A 'star wheel 43 and aratchetcwheel 44 areconnected with each other and are both ro' tatably"mounted on the shaft 33. V The *star wheel 'coop-, erates with anescapement-like pawl to cause swinging movement of a bell clapper 46,The escapement-like pawl 45 is rockably mounted. on c a pivot 45a sothat spaced portions thereof 6 are alternately engaged by the teethof-the star wheel 43; and includes an integral oifset' arm 45b havingthe clapper 46 at its'o ut'erend. A plate T causes the clapper46 to beswung or vibrated into detent 41 rotates with the shaft 33 and hasspringfingers 48 adapted to engage the teethof-the I ratchet wheel 44. V

7 From the arrangement seen that when the dial 26-is rotated in aclock-' wise direction the shaft 33 will'rotate the'plate detent 41 inthe same direction, and the spring fingers 48 of the latter'e'ngagingthe teeth of the ratchet wheel 44, will also cause the ratchet wheel andthe star wheel topbe rotated in a clockwise direction. This rotationoithegst'ar wheel 43 striking engagement with the bell 36. The

clockwise rotation of the shaft 33 tensions the spring '40 and, when thedial is released after the clockwise rotationg the spring rotates thedial in a counter-clockwise direction; and returns the same toitsstarting position; During this return movement of the dial under'th einfluence'of then spring 40, the spring "fingers j48 of the plate detent"ride over the teeth of the ratchetwheel 44 so thatlthe star wheel43will ,notberotated atthis time. j

The signaling device 3| may be a device of the typehaving a bellows 5!!and a reed or other.

sound producing element (not shown) past which 3 air is caused toflowby'operation of the bellows.

The device may be: of the type having a weighted 7 part 5| whichislifted to expand the bellows and which descends by gravity tocollapseithe bellows V andforce air past the sound producingelement.InaccOrdance withmy invention I transmit motion from'the dial shaft33 tot e signaling device3|to causethe bellows to be extended and collapsedin response to rotaticn of the dial.

For this purpose I pro'vide an operating connec-i tion between the dialshaft and'the weighted part 5|, preferably in the form of a cord orstrand" 53, which is connected with the weighted part and with thewinding member 31; V The strand maybe led through'one or more guidearms54 whichare suitably arranged to direct the move ments of the strand. 1V r a 'With the arrangement just explained it'will be seen that when thedial is'rotated in the clockwise direction which, as explained above,pro-. duces ringing of thebell 3,6,the strand 53jis wound in the space,55 between the member31 and the bell 36. The winding of the strandtensi'ons'the same and causes theweighted part 5| to be lifted to extendthe bellows 50. When the V dial is released and rotated in thecounter-clock- V wise direction under the influence of the spring4|],ithestrand 53 is allowed to unwind and the weight 5| descends bygravity thereby collapsing 7 the bellows 5p and forcing air past thesound producing element to cause the same to emit a cry orsquawk which,in some instances, may be .a sound simulating the voice;

just described it win be 7 'ments of the dial.

As a feature of my invention; I may utiliae'r ani elastic strand as thestrand 53 which provides the operating connection between the dial and Vthe sound producing device 3|. When an elastic,

strand is used for thispurpose it will be seen that the strand need notbe of an accurately determinedlength and thetensioning of the strand'tolift the weighted part/5| may be caused in part.

by a winding up ofthe strandand in 'part by astretching thereof." By useof such an elastic strand, operation of the signaling device 3| may behad as the result of either partial or complete rotary movements of thedial 26.

'To facilitateassembly of the parts of the toy, r I telephone If'mayprovide ;a suitably shaped bracket 56 for supporting and positioning thesignaling device 3|. This bracket may be secured to the rear 'wall of.the shell II, as by means of rivets;5'|,- and ,may have an arm 58extending 1 laterally above the bottomicover plate l4 for supporting'thedevice 3|; The arm 58 may have] spring fingers 59 whichgrippingly'engage the device 3| to retain the same in position. If

desired, the bracket '56 may be extendedupwardly so that the guide arms54 may be carried thereby. The'connection between the strand 53 and theweighted part 5| of the signaling device 3 3| is preferably locatedeccentrically with respect to the center59' of the signaling device, asshown in Fig. 4, so that after'the signalingjdevices'30 and-3| have beenassembled into the'base of the telephone in the relative positionsjshownin Fig.

3 and" with the ends of the :cord 53 connected V V ythereto, it is onlynecessary to rotate the device 3|-'within thefspring fingers59 to takeupany slack which may exist in'the strand 53 when the dial isin itsstarting position. After the "slack,;: has been taken up the fingers 59can be further 7 deflected into firm holding engagement with the'device3l; f

fI'he' shell of the base In may be provided with a a a plurality 'ofappropriate openings 60 for the signaling devices and 3|. 1

From theaccompanying drawing and the'fore g assage of sound wavesemanating from, the i going description, itwill now'be readily-understood that I have provided animproved toy telephone embodying aplurality of signaling. de=

vices arrangedto' operate in res'ponse to move It will also be. seenthat V I 1 V have provided novel meansfor causing-the de sired operationofithesignaling devices-whereby. one devicefsuchasa bell, may beoperated in. responseto rotation of the dial in one direction as do notconstitute a departure from the spirit of the invention and the scope ofthe appended claims." I v Havinggthus described my invention, I claim: 3

rotation of the dial in the p 1..A toy telephone. of thedial type havinga rotatable dial, a plurality of signaling devices cooperativelydisposed relative to thedial, and

operative connectionsbetween said dial and signaling devices arranged tocause operation of one signal device in response to rotation of the dialin one direction and operation of another signal device in response torotation of the dialin the opposite direction. r

2. In a toy telephone, a base, and. a callin device including a seriesof indicia associated with the base and a rotatable member mounted oversaid indicia, a plurality of signaling devices, means responsive torotation of therotatable member in one direction for actuating onesignaling device, and means responsive to rotation of the rotatablemember in the opposite direction for actuating another signaling device.

3. In a toy telephone of the dial type, a base, a calling device thereonincluding a rotatable dial member, a plurality of signaling devicesincluding a bell ringing device and a voice simulating device, andoperating connections rendering the bell ringing device responsive torotation of the dial member in one direction and the voice simulatingdevice responsive to rotation of the dial member in the oppositedirection.

4. In a toy telephone, a hollow base, a rotatable member thereon, aplurality of signaling devices in said hollow base including a bellringing device and a voice simulating device, said hollow base havingsound exit openings, means for causing operation of the bell ringingdevice during rotation of said member in one direction, and means forcausing operation of the voice simulating device during rotation of saidmember in the opposite direction.

5. In a toy telephone, the combination of a base, a rotatable memberthereon, a sound producing device of the type having a bellows, andoperating means responsive to rotation of said member for extending andcollapsing said bellows, said operating means including a winding devicedriven from said rotatable member and a strand having connection withthe bellows and adapted to be tensioned by rotation of said windingdevice.

6. In a toy telephone, the combination of a base, a rotatable memberthereon, a sound producing device, and means for actuating the sounddevice including a winding device driven by said rotatable member and astrand having connection with said sound device and adapted to betensioned in response to rotation of said winding device.

'7. In a toy telephone, the combination of a base, a rotatable memberthereon, a sound producing device, means for actuating the sound deviceincluding an elastic strand adapted to be tensioned by rotation of saidmember.

8. In a toy telephone, the combination of a base, a rotatable memberthereon, a signaling device, means responsive to rotation of said memberfor actuating said signaling device, a sound producing device, and meansfor actuating the sound device including a rotatable winding meansoperatively associated with said rotatable member and a strand adaptedto be tensioned by rotation of said winding means.

9. In a toy telephone, the combination of a base, a rotatable memberthereon, a signaling deviice, means, responsive to rotation of saidmember for actuating said signaling device, a sound producing device ofthe type having a bellows and means for collapsing the same, a windingmeans adapted to be operated by said rotatable member, and a strandhaving operative connection with said bellows and adapted to betensioned by said winding means to extend the bellows in response torotation of said member.

10. In a toy telephone, the combination or" a base, a rotatable memberthereon, a signaling device, means responsive to rotation; of saidmember for actuating the signaling device, a sound producing device ofthe type having a bellows and meansfor collapsingthe same, a windingmeans responsive to rotation of said member, and a strand connecting thebellows with said winding means and adapted to be ten sioned by thelatter.

11. In a toy telephone, the combination of a base, a dial thereonadapted to be rotated manually in one direction, a spring for rotatingsaid dial in the opposite direction, said spring being arranged to betensioned during the manual rotation, a signaling device, meansresponsive to the manual rotation of said dial for actuating said signaldevice, a sound producing device of the type having a bellows and meansfor collapsing the bellows, and means responsive to the manual rotationof said dial for extending the bellows.

12. In a toy telephone the combination of a base having a rotatable dialthereon, a signaling device, means mounting said signaling device onsaid base so as to permit rotation of the device relative to the base,and means for actuating said signaling device in response to rotation ofthe dial including a strand having connection with the signaling deviceeccentric to its axis of rotation whereby rotary adjustment of thesignaling device takes up slack in the strand.

13. In a toy telephone, a base, a plurality of sound emitting signaldevices thereon, a manually operable spring-returned dial, andconnections between the dial and the signal devices operable to causesequential sounding of said devices. v

14. In a toy telephone, the combination of a base having a bell deviceand a pneumatic device thereon, a rotary actuating member movablemanually in one direction, a spring adapted to move the actuating memberin the opposite direction, means connecting the pneumatic device foroperation by said actuating member, and a ratchet mechanism operablyconnecting the actuating member and said bell device.

15. In a toy telephone, a base having thereon a bell device and apneumatic device, a manually operable spring-returned dial, and aratchet mechanism and an elastic cord providing respectively anoperating connection between the dial and said bell device and betweenthe dial and said pneumatic device, said ratchet mechanism and elasticcord cooperating to cause sequential sounding of said devices.

16. In a toy telephone, the combination of a base having thereon a pairof sound producing devices one of which is a pneumatic device, arotatable operating member manually movable in one direction, a springadapted to cause return movement of said operating member, meansconnecting said operating member and said pneumatic device to causesounding of the latter during said return movement, and a ratchetmechanism between said operating member and the other signal device forcausing sounding of the latter during said manual movement.

17. In a toy telephone, a base having thereon a bell device and apneumatic device, a pivoted actuating member manually movable in onedirection and adapted to be automatically returned, means operablyconnecting said actuating member and said pneumatic device including anelastic strand adapted to be tensioned and stretched during manualmovement of said actuating member and to be contracted and slackenedduring return movement of the actuating member,

and e'i'atchetmechanism ifor eausing ,bpepation of the bell deviceduring manual movementpf the actuating member and. rendering the belldey 'vice inoperative durin'g'sai'd retum movement of V hthe actuatingmemberg,

-' :18.In"a. toy telephonmpiqnsehaving a. pneuadapted te beautomatically returned, and an op erating'connection between saidactuating member and'said device comprising :an elastic strand adaptedto betensioned and stretched during 7 manual movement of the actuatingmember and; to be contracted andslackened during the rerturnrxnovementof-the actuating me mbel r Hum-w BREGMAN;

